“In my younger and more vulnerable years my father gave me some advice that I’ve been turning over in my mind ever since. Whenever you feel like criticising any one, he told me, just remember that all the people in this world haven’t had the advantages that you’ve had.”
F Scott Fitzgerald, The Great Gatsby
My name is David Sharkey and I am a teacher, coach and sometimes writer. I am the Head of English at Shiplake College, an independent school in Henley-on-Thames, Oxfordshire, UK. Alongside English, History is a real passion of mine as I read both subjects at University College Dublin before training as a teacher in King’s College London.
I believe that ‘The Great Gatsby’ has the best combination of opening and closing lines. If you have a better suggestion, please do let me know.
I have worked in Ireland, Clongowes Wood College and Australia, St Joseph’s College, Sydney in teaching, pastoral and coaching roles. Upon my completion of my PGCE at King’s College, I spent three years in Holland Park School, London, a state comprehensive, where I worked as Assistant Head of English for the last two years I was there.
Coaching has been a huge passion of mine having been involved in teams from ages 8-18 and in schools. While rugby is my main passion, I coach football which is hugely rewarding as well as challenging.
I have undertaken my RFU Level 3 Coaching Award and I am particularly interested in how teams are forged and maintain cohesion. In exploring these ideas, I have undertaken projects that I am passionate about: masculinity in rugby cultures; the use of themes and story-telling in sport coaching; the focus of promoting character through coaching.
If you would like to get in touch, please feel free to do so via any of the formats below:
- Email: dsharkey.teamarchitecture@gmail.com
- Twitter: @teachingsharks
“Gatsby believed in the green light, the orgastic future that year by year recedes before us. It eluded us then, but that’s no matter – tomorrow we will run faster, stretch out our arms further… So we beat on, boats against the current, born back ceaselessly into the past.”
F Scott Fitzgerald, The Great Gatsby
the great white sharkey 